As a result, the council did not vote Tuesday on whether to retain or unseat president Joe Gatlin and five other board members.

However, following unorthodox maneuvers, Joe Donato was elected to the vacant position of communications officer.

Donato and Phil Trigas were competing for the office. When voting opened, board members opted for Trigas, 7-6.

Having not voted in the first round, Gatlin then threw his support behind Donato, creating a 7-7 tie. Then Gatlin kept the voting rolls open until an absent board member returned to his seat and sided with Donato, whom Gatlin declared the winner.